Name 3 old school hip hop albums that don't sound dated?

I don't really consider mid 90s stuff like Wu Tang, Biggie, Nas, etc. "old school". Early 90s at the latest.

So I'll go with

EPMD - Strictly Business

- I actually posted a question about a month ago about how the beat to Get Off the Bandwagon is almost identical to Lil Wayne's Fireman which came out almost 20 years later

A Tribe Called Quest - Low End Theory

- It may sound different from what's popular today, but it doesn't sound dated at all. Especially when compared to other albums from 1991. It actually sounds like something that an underground group today might make.

Main Source - Breaking Atoms

- Like Strictly Business this was another album that really advanced production techniques at the time. It sounds more dated than the EPMD album (which says a lot about how ahead of its time Strictly Business was), but it still was very different to what hip hop typically sounded like in 1990.

Old school is 1980's for me.

I'm not going to get controversial here and put down Paid in Full. I know many cats on this board who think it is completely outdated. Personally I don't but I'll name 3 others anyway

1. Strictly Business - EPMD. Musically, lyrically it has mass appeal and for me never gets tired.

2. It Takes a Nation of Millions To Hold Us Back - Public Enemy. The lyrics are still relevant and the James Brown soulful samples never die.

3. 3 Feet High and Rising - De La Soul. The style and sound is so unique it's actually hard to place what year this could have been released in. It easily could have been 1994 but it was actually 1989.

I was actually just thinking about this while driving around listening to old albums, and I have to say 36 Chambers every time I listen to it I seriously feel that it still has a relevant sound and lyrics, Ironman can be next in line. I still get excited listening to both albums like it was the first time all over again.

Enter the Wu Tang: 36 Chambers - Wu Tang Clan Illmatic - Nas Low End Theory - A Tribe Called Quest Breaking Atoms - Main Source 93 Til Infinity - Souls of Mischief Van Full if Pakastans - Yall So Stupid Mecca & The Soul Brother - Pete Rock & C.L. Smooth Bizarre Ride II the Pharcyde - The Pharcyde Only Build for Cuban Links - Raekwon The Score - Fugees Resurrection - Common Endtroduciong - DJ Shadow

Mecca & The Soul Brother- Pete Rock & CL Smooth

Only Built For Cuban Links- Raekwon

Ready To Die- Notorious B.I.G.

Sound production on all these albums. Cuban Links was the best album in hip hip history IMO. This album was better than both Wu-Tang Clan albums and the best from a Wu-Tang Clan member. That album was dope from beginning to end. There was not a lull in the album. Each told a story and I can listen to them anytime I get the notion.

Nas - Illmatic

AZ - Doe or Die

Tupac - All Eyez on Me

What makes it still sound relevant is the production!! I know Illmatic had mad hot production but it was seriously ahead of its time. Most albums try to copy its style and thats what has kept it alive, so to speak. Doe or Die had iffy production, and especially on the title track it shows that its production was iffy (or overrated, I guess) Okay, on All Eyez on Me, the production was mad overrated. Its just like the production you'd hear on the average 6/10 album nowadays. The lyricism wasn't that great too, outside of Got My Mind Made Up.

Illmatic

Ready To Die

Enter the 36 Chambers

The D.O.C. - No One Can Do It Better

Redman - Whut? thee Album (if you consider 92 old school) Some do and some dont.

Mac Dre - What's Really Going On? (Again 92)

I think production keeps it relevant. Lyrics are lyics..

Style of delivery is a key part as well.

Ultramagnetic MCs - Critical Beatdown

(the true definition of Fresh)

De La Soul Is Dead - De La Soul

(Have you heard Pass the Pluggs and Millie Pulled a Pistol? if those songs were released today they'd be even more praised than they were in the 90's)

I Wish my Brother George Was Here - Del

(ill production and lyricism, also the comedic relief through out the album really isolates it from other 91 albums)

I didn't think of posting anything newer than 92....

Moment Of Truth

Enter the Wu-Tang (36 Chambers)

Tical